Chair



July 9-, 1929. c. F. STREIT 1,720,102

' CHAIR Filed Dec. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l amoemto'v C. F. STREIT July 9, 1929.

CHAIR Filed Dec. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented July 9 1929 UNITED STATES CARL I. STREIT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CHAIR.

Application filed December 12, 1927. Serial No. 239,378.

This invention relates to an improved type of easy chair and is in the nature of an improvement over the chair disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 57,443.

The chair disclosed in the above mentioned application is an improvement over the morris chair or similar types of chairs which have many characteristics undesirable both as to utility and operation.

The first improvement provides a chair frame and a unitary'seat and back, the seat portion of the said unitary seat and back being pivoted to the frame at the extreme forward end and a pawl and ratchet mechanism disposed at the rear of the chair and operated by swinging the chair on its pivot for selectively seating the chair in any one of a plurality of positions. The present invention adds to thisfirst conception various elements for rendering the adjustment device more positive in its action and eliminating any possibility of mis-use.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a pawl and ratchet device for ad justably setting the chair in any one of a plurality of differently inclined seating positions which device is positive in its operation and not subject to improper manipulation.

Another ob'ect of the invention is to provide a means or limiting the swinging movement of the unitary seat and back in both directions, this means being inherent in the adjustment device for adjustably setting the chair.

Other objects of the invention will be more fully set forth in the description of theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved chair.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear viewthereof, certain portions being broken away to disclose the pivotal mounting of the pawl to the rear frame.-

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the chair, the rear portion thereof being broken away to more fully illustrate the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the pawl and ratchet mechanism shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the pawl thrown back and away from the ratchets upon upward swing of the chair unitary seat and back as a position assumed incidental to moving the pawl into the upper notch.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view taken the same as Figure 5 but showing the chair unitary seat and back lowered and having engaged the pawl for throwing it against the ratchet-s being an intermediate position taken by the pawl between the throw-out position and the actual engagement of the pawl into the upper notches.

F i ure 7 is a view taken similar to Figure 5 but 5 owing the pawl engaged into the upper notches of the ratchets by a continued downward movement of the chair, this view representing the lower reclining position of the unitary seat and back.

The frame of the chair comprises a base 1, front legs 2, rear legs 3, and arms 4, the respective sides of the frame being joined by cross pieces, the rear of these cross pieces being indicated at 5. The illustrated rear cross piece functions as a part of the adjustment device hereinafter disclosed. The swinging or pivoted element 6 of the chair ma be referred to as a unitary seat and back being pivoted as at 7 on pivot brackets at each side of the forward portion of the frame. The seat and back are covered with cloth or leather upholstery as may be desired.

The adjustment device, broadly speaking, comprises a swinging pawl pivoted between the side elements of the frame and adapted to cooperate with a pair of pawls immovably secured to the unitary seat and back at the rear lower side thereof.

The ratchets 8, one at each side of the back. are set in pockets 9 formed by caving out the back portion. These ratchets are secured to the side frames 10 of the unitary seat and back as shown in Figures 1 and 3 and are provided with a plurality of ratchet shoulders 12 disposed toward the rear of the chair. The pawl 13 is pivoted on pivot brackets 14, there being a bracket at each side ofv the chair disposing the pawl between the side rails of the chair frame and on a center fairly close to the arc of swing of the ratchets secured at the rear ofthe unitary seat and back. The pawl 13 is notched out as at 15, so as to clear the side frames of the unitary seat and back to allow the adjacent and'intermediate portion of the pawl to engage in the desired ratchet notch. The ratchets and pawl are preferably of wood matchin the cabinet work of the chair in finish an design. The

A stud 17 extends forwardly at an angle from the base of the pawl and functions as the means for throwing the pawl into engagement with the ratchets. This stud as shown in Figure 4 is disposed within the are of swing of the ratchet edge being engaged thereby for kicking the pawl forwardly from its rest position on the cross member 5. A limit strap 18 is connected at one end to the lower edge of the pawl and at the other end to the lower corner of a ratchet. As shown by Figure 4 this strap limits upward move ment of the unitary seat and back due to the swinging of the pawl against the cross member 5. The limit strap also functions to prevent the bouncing of the pawl or oscillation of the pawl on its pivot when the unitary seat and back are drawn up very rapidly, also preventing the pawl from falling in under the lower-most edge of the ratchet. The strap is constructed of flexible material preferably of extremely pliable material such as fabric. The use of a heavier and stiffer material would interfere with the free movement of the pawl and its normal functioning.

The function of the various elements of the adjustment device will be apparent from the following description of their operation.

The sequence of the Figures 3, 5, 6 and 7 indicates the order of the positions taken'by the elements of the combination during adjustment. As shown in Figure 3 the pawl is engaged in the lower notches of the ratchets. In order to get the pawl into engagement with the upper notch of the ratchets the operator grasps the back of the chair and raises it as far as possible, the limit of upward movement being shown in Figure 5. The strap at this time has swung the pawl on its pivot and holds it back against the cross member 5. The operator then swings the unitary seat and back downwardly as far as possible and the pawl automatically engages the upper ratchet notches as indicated in Figure 7. As shown in Figure 6 intermediate of the engagement of the pawl with the upper notches the lower edge of a ratchet strikes the stud 17, swinging the fulcrumed pawl past dead center causing it to fall against the intermediate surfaces of the upper notches. As the pawl falls forwardly due to gravity the stud 17 moves sufficiently clear of the ratchet so as not to interfere with further downward movement of the ratchets. Upon a continuation of the downward movement of the unitary seat and back the pawl is engaged with a corner of the upper ratchet notches. hen it is desired to again adjust to a seating'position of less inclination the operator merely raises the chair until the pawl drops by gravity to the lower notches and again assumes the first described position.

It will be readily apparent that a pair of ratchets, one at each side of the chair, are provided for securing a more rigid setting of the unitary seat and back but this it not necessary for one ratchet will suflice for adjustment purposes. In the same way it is immaterial whether there is a single throw-in stud or two throw-in studs, one at each side of the pawl, and the same is true of the limit strap. The pivot point for the unitary seat and back is as far forward as possible on the chair frame in order to keep the forward edge of the seat at a uniform distance from the floor regardless of inclination of the seat.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a chair, a frame, a seat pivoted in said frame, ratchets secured to the seat at the rear thereof, a pawl pivotally mounted in the frame adjacent to the arc of swing of said ratchets and engaging the teeth of the ratchet, said seat engaging the pawl for controlling said pawl in ratchet teeth engaging and disengaging movements, a stop limiting ratchet disengaging movement of said pawl, and a flexible connection between said pawl and seat for drawing the pawl against the stop and thereby limiting upward movement of the seat.

2. In a chair, a chair frame, a seat pivoted in saidframe at the forward end thereof, ratchets secured to the rear of said'seat, a pawl pivotally mounted in the frame for engagement with said ratchets; means for limiting ratchet disengaging movement of the pawl, and a strap connecting said seat and pawl for swinging said pawl out of engage ment with said ratchets and limiting movement of the seat as the "seat is'swung upwardly, the rear edge of said seat adapted to engage said pawl to either move it in or out of engagement-with the ratchet teeth, whereby said pawl in a ratchet engaging movement is swung past dead center so as to fall into the upper notches of said ratchets and adapted to be subsequently transferred to the lower notches of said ratchets merely by swinging the seat upward on its pivot allowing the pawl to drop by gravity into said lower notches. i

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

CARL F. STREIT. 

